How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills

[amsderb 1]

Did you call to inform your doc? ask them??? I am not trying to be glib...just concerned.

[Catarina 0]

I am just getting ready to have my 4th fill (of which every time I have had to go back to my doctor and get the saline taken out or mostly removed because of swelling or my purging). I know that this is probably my fault because I think I may have eaten too soon or ate the wrong things. What do you eat after a fill? I know you are supposed to have liquids, but for how long and is there anything you can eat besides liquids that won't get stuck?

[peaches9 3]

I just had my second fill on Thursday. I have noticed I am having pulsating contractions in my stomach. Not in my chest but in my upper stomach where the band would be. They are painful and happen throughout the day. It doesn't happen just when I eat or drink. I can be sitting down and they hit me all of a sudden. I am not sure if this is esophageal spasms as the symptoms are different than what i have been told. Has anyone ever had these particular symptoms and I wonder if it is because of this last fill....

I sometimes too have this pulsing feeling, but it is usally when I am FULL, and oh ya know just tried to have 'one more bite'... it's your body telling you to QUIT it!! If I ignore it and continue then I'll have a PB and pain... :tt2:

I am just getting ready to have my 4th fill (of which every time I have had to go back to my doctor and get the saline taken out or mostly removed because of swelling or my purging). I know that this is probably my fault because I think I may have eaten too soon or ate the wrong things. What do you eat after a fill? I know you are supposed to have liquids, but for how long and is there anything you can eat besides liquids that won't get stuck?

What my clinic suggests is that you take liquids for the ENTIRE day of your fill. Then the next morning take it slow with Warm oatmeal, or scrambled eggs. (soft foods) and always remember to take TINY bites and chew well... then you can have a reg lunch and supper.

Hope this info helps.

[amsderb 1]

OK...my doc is very conservative....clear liquids for the day of the fill (day 1) and two more days! Then mushies or food...I was soooo good this time...last time I had cream of Tomato Soup at lunch day 3....The NP actually had said I could try mushies that night, so that wasn't too early...

This time I made my own chicken broth from a family recipe which I LOVE so I drank that a bunch of times and had some Isopure, and prune juice...for obvious reasons...

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Good job Shelly!

I have had that pulsing feeling in the esophagus. Doctor said it was trying to pass the food. It's right at the bottom of my rib cage.

[MyTurn 4]

Amsderb, PLEASE share the recipe for the chicken broth!! Thanks a bunch :-) !!

[LibbyS 0]

Wendell,

This post has really been helpful for me. I had my surgery July 8 and just had my first fill on September 5. The reason is that I moved from California to Texas and had to schedule the fill when I would be in the Bay Area. I lost 20 pounds on the pre-post liquid diet, but when I started eating food my weight stabilized. With no fill, I was eating about half of what I was capable of eating in the past. For example, 1/2 to 2/3 of restaurant servings of fish, etc. For me, pre-band, I always had two speeds: dieting or eating. I had lost 90lbs on one occasion, 70lbs another time, and many times of 20lbs but always gained it back and more. So I was always either gaining or losing. After the band, once I started eating food, I could eat almost anything except bread as long as it could be chewed very slowly and to an almost liquid state before swallowing. But, I was beginning to go back to some of my old habits. It was actually kind of good for me to see that I could eat, and maintain my weight. I didn't gain or lose a pound for the past month. I wondered if I should try to diet on the band, but thought I should use the period to experiment a little and see how I could handle the band.

After the fill 4cc yesterday, I was still hungry all day, but stayed on liquids and mushies. This morning I had a Protein shake and I am full. I hope the restriction is kicking in. I now realize that I will have to go back several times to get to the right place, and I am encouraged that I will begin to lose weight and keep it off.

[wrtbill 0]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post. I have been reading this site for an hour or so and have found a wealth of information.

I had my first fill on Tuesday (6cc in APL - 14cc cap). I really had problems all day Tuesday and Wednesday with anything and was beginning to think that my doctor was too agressive with this fill. I tried some solid food on Thursday and things were worse, but Friday and today have been fine. I think I might of had some swelling or I was eating too fast. Things seem ok now and I now feel like the doctor did the right thing.

Has anyone else had this type of thing happen in this short of time after a fill? What I mean by that is have a real tought time the first couple days and then things settle down to a good level after that. Also, has anyone had that much Fluid added on the first fill.

[michiganbaner1021 0]

thanks for the information. This shed alot of ligt on my band.

[nneurell 0]

A thread is just a lot of pages on the topic that was started.

You should be getting emails once you have posted that tells you someone posted after you in the same subject.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. The main home page is all broken down for different areas. For instance, it's broken down into age groups, questions, food and recipes etc.

This was thread was started because so many people have questions about why they have had a fill and still don't have restriction.

Thank you for answering my question that I never asked. I still would like to know how to set up a weight chart or line what ever it is called.

I had my surgery in April, because my body was acting like it did not want the band I was in the hospital 3 times because I was not keeping food down. Last month my doctor finally want back in and made adjustment. I am now eating. I received my first fill Sept.4 I thought that my stomach was swelling. Thanks. I am not feeling the restriction that i hope to have after waiting almost five months. I hope that the next one is better.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I am not exactly sure where the ticker instructions are. I think they are under frequently asked questions. You can put ticker into the thread search and it should come up.

WRTBILL: It's very common for a fill to change within the first couple of weeks. They say there is swelling around the stomach after a fill and that can mess with restriction. Restriction will change until you get close to goal as the fat pad around your stomach shrinks. I don't think that in that big of a band that is too big of a fill. It all depends on the person though. What is too much for one person could be not enough for another person.

[sarahk 0]

Okay, I am the biggest needle phobic! does it hurt to get a fill? How do they do it?:thumbup:

[BANDIT GIRL 1]

Okay, I am the biggest needle phobic! does it hurt to get a fill? How do they do it?:thumbup:

I think everyone is different, but I have heard alot of people say it doesn't hurt and for me my first (have only had one) didn't hurt at all. I was shocked! I don't like needles either and was nervous but no pain. My dr said it was because there are not as many nerves in that part of the skin as like in your hand for instance. Good luck , hope it goes well for u!

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

It has never hurt me to get a fill. Mine are over with in about 10 seconds.

I have heard some doctors can't find the port right away and had to stick in the needle in more than once. They usually use something to numb the area first though, so it shouldn't hurt.

[dixiedoo 0]

Hi all Sorry for the long post - I had my first fill on Sept 15th exactly 4 weeks after I was banded. I was nervous too about the first time fill but my doc was very careful finding the port first and having me stretch my arms up and then stick my tummy out in order to be really sure. He got in no problem - really was just a little pick. I was so busy gabbing that it went very quickly. I drank a few sips of Water over the next few minutes and was good to go. I did feel a bit of restriction or kind of a strange feeling - made me a bit nauseated.:girl_hug: I was on fluids for the next 24 hrs - this was at 4pm so next evening I had a bit to eat and all was well. I paid $75.00 and I'm sure I was in with him for a good 40 min. He is doing the fills but runs a bariatric clinic and feels that us lapbanders also need support on how to eat with it and use it as a tool. He explained about research regarding abdominal fat, genetics and things. :wub:I really liked him. Sooo how much do you guys pay for fills? If I were closer to where I got banded they would be free but time and gas would cost me as much to get there.